Bolthole Index

Cook County, Illinois

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Franklin Park, Illinois

The Village of Franklin Park, Illinois, in Cook County, runs its own zoning under Title 9 of the village code1 and issues its own residential building permits2. Village staff, not the Cook County building department, handle both3. Septic approval for Cook County addresses outside four named municipalities comes from the Cook County Department of Public Health4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside the village; issued by the Franklin Park Building Department23
Zoning
Village zoning code, Title 9 of the village code1
Building code
2021 International Residential Code with village amendments for one- and two-family homes5
Septic
Cook County Department of Public Health reviews private sewage systems across the county4
Lot and setbacks (R-1)
6,250 sq ft minimum lot, 25-foot front setback, 40 percent building coverage678
Height (R-1, R-2)
35 feet maximum9
Flood rules
Development in the 100-year and 500-year floodplain must be protected below the flood protection elevation10

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Franklin Park Building Department

Building permits, inspections and code enforcement inside the Village of Franklin Park

847-671-8245

[email protected]

9500 Belmont, Franklin Park, IL 60131

Zoning

Village of Franklin Park Zoning Department

Zoning code enforcement, zoning map, and zoning relief through the Zoning Board of Appeals

(847) 671-8227

Septic permits

Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health

Review and approval of private sewage disposal systems and well/septic evaluations in Cook County

708-836-8600

7556 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, IL 60130

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Franklin Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Franklin Park, IL have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Franklin Park has its own zoning. The village's Zoning Ordinance in Title 9 of its code uses a use matrix that sets which principal and temporary uses each zoning district allows1. The Zoning Department enforces the code and posts an interactive zoning map for looking up any parcel11.

Dimensional rules depend on the district. In the R-1 district the minimum lot area is 6,250 square feet, and in R-2 it is 6,000 square feet, or 4,500 square feet for a traditional lot6. Front setbacks are 25 feet in both districts; the rear setback is 40 feet in R-1 and 35 feet in R-27. Interior side setbacks are 6 feet in R-1 and 3 feet in R-27. Buildings may cover up to 40 percent of an R-1 or R-2 lot8 and may be up to 35 feet tall9.

Townhouse units in R-3 through R-5 must be at least 1,000 square feet, and multi-family units at least 900 square feet12. Whether RVs, tiny homes or accessory dwellings are allowed on a private lot was not confirmed, so ask the Zoning Department at (847) 671-8227 before you plan around them11.

Do you need a building permit in Franklin Park, and who issues it?

Yes. Franklin Park adopted the 2021 International Residential Code, with local amendments in section 8-6-4, for one- and two-family homes and townhouses inside the village5. The code provides for issuing building permits and collecting fees2. The Franklin Park Building Department says the village requires that permits be obtained for nearly all residential and commercial/industrial work3.

The Building Department at 9500 Belmont issues these building permits, not Cook County3. Cook County's own building department covers only unincorporated areas and sends callers in incorporated municipalities to the local authority13. The county's permit rules, deposits and forms do not apply inside the village.

The permit fee schedule and the exact owner-builder rules were not confirmed. Call the department at 847-671-8245 and ask what your project needs3.

How do septic permits work in Franklin Park?

Septic approval is separate from village building permits. The Cook County Department of Public Health reviews and approves private sewage disposal systems throughout Cook County, with exceptions only for four named municipalities, and Franklin Park is not one of them4. The department requires approval before home construction involving wells and septic moves forward14.

We could not confirm whether the village requires a connection to public sewer or water for a given lot, or how wells are handled inside village limits. Ask the Building Department first, then the Cook County Department of Public Health at 708-836-8600 if the lot is not on sewer15.

What about floodplains in Franklin Park?

Parts of Franklin Park sit in mapped floodplain. The village requires buildings within the 100-year floodplain, and buildings outside it but within the 500-year floodplain, to be protected from flood damage below the flood protection elevation10. The village's floodway designations cover Silver Creek, Crystal Creek and the Des Plaines River10. New subdivisions within the special flood hazard area are reviewed for consistency with the village's flood damage rules16. Check a parcel's flood status before you buy.

Building a home in Franklin Park: the steps, in order

  1. Look up the parcel's zoning district on the village's interactive zoning map, or call the Zoning Department11.
  2. Check the district's lot area, setbacks, coverage and height limits against your plan6.
  3. If the project needs zoning relief such as a variance or conditional use, apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals11.
  4. Apply for a building permit from the Building Department at 9500 Belmont3.
  5. If the lot is not on public sewer, get Cook County Department of Public Health approval before building14.
  6. Expect a certificate of occupancy requirement: before a sale, lease, change of use or occupancy permit, the property must satisfy subsection 4-3A-7(b) of the village code17.

What stays with Cook County, and what to check before you buy in Franklin Park

Cook County's rules for unincorporated Cook County do not apply inside Franklin Park: the county building department says properties in incorporated municipalities should contact the local building and zoning authority13. Septic and well oversight stays with the Cook County Department of Public Health4.

Before you buy, confirm the zoning district, any open permits or violations, flood status, and whether the lot is on public sewer. Sale or lease of a property also triggers the village's certificate-of-occupancy compliance check17. Property taxes run high: Cook County's median property tax bill is $6,053 a year18.

Watch-outs

  • Cook County's building and zoning rules, fees and deposits cover only unincorporated areas, so they are the wrong office for an address inside Franklin Park13.
  • Septic permits, sewer connection requirements and private wells inside Franklin Park were not confirmed; ask the Building Department and the Cook County Department of Public Health before you buy a lot that is not on sewer14.
  • Village rules on RVs, tiny homes and accessory dwellings were not confirmed; ask the Zoning Department11.
  • Sleeping in a vehicle parked overnight on public streets or other public property is prohibited under the village's public camping rule19.

Sources

  1. Franklin Park Code 9-9-2 Use matrix generally (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  2. Franklin Park Code 8-6-3 Residential Code adopted (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Franklin Park Building Department (villageoffranklinpark.com)
  4. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  5. Franklin Park Code 8-6-3 Residential Code adopted (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  6. Franklin Park Code 9-4-3 Dimensional standards (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  7. Franklin Park Code 9-4-3 Dimensional standards (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  8. Franklin Park Code 9-4-3 Dimensional standards (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  9. Franklin Park Code 9-4-3 Dimensional standards (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  10. Franklin Park Code 8-5-9 Permitting requirements (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Franklin Park Zoning Department (villageoffranklinpark.com)
  12. Franklin Park Code 9-4-3 Dimensional standards (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  13. Building and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  14. Septic, quoted and re-checked
  15. Cook County Department of Public Health - Environmental Health (cookcountypublichealth.org)
  16. Franklin Park Code 8-5-10 Other development requirements (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  17. Franklin Park Code 7-10A-5 Compliance with village code (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Franklin Park Code 4-11-5 Public camping prohibited (Village of Franklin Park), quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Franklin Park

Village of Franklin Park’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential construction inside Franklin Park village

    • Adopted residential code provides for issuance of permits and collection of fees
    • Work exempt from permit is determined by Village Code requirements (R105.2 amended)
    “providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses inside Franklin Park village

    • 2021 International Residential Code with Appendices AA, AB, AC, AD, AH, AJ, AK
    • Local amendments in section 8-6-4
    • More restrictive village provision prevails in a conflict
    “is hereby adopted as the residential code of the village, for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Sale, lease, change of use or occupancy of property inside Franklin Park village

    • Property must satisfy subsection 4-3A-7(b) of the code
    • Front-yard driveway or parking pad not leading to side/rear parking or garage must be removed for residential property
    “prior to the sale, lease, change of use of any property, or the issuance of an occupancy permit or the issuance of any permit for the repair or modification of any property, the subject property shall satisfy all requirements set forth in subsection 4-3a-7 (b) of this code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Franklin Park village (Title 9 Zoning Ordinance)

    “table 9-1: use matrix identifies the principal and temporary uses allowed within each zoning district.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-3, R-4, R-5 districts inside Franklin Park village (townhouse and multi-family units)

    • R-1 and R-2 show N/A in the table (not treated as proof of absence)
    • Single-family minimum in R-3 to R-5 not stated

    townhouse minimum unit size R-3/R-4/R-5: >= 1000 sq ft per dwelling unit · multi-family minimum unit size R-3/R-4/R-5: >= 900 sq ft per dwelling unit

    “minimum dwelling unit size n/a n/a th: 1,000sf/du mf: 900sf/du th: 1,000sf/du mf: 900sf/du th: 1,000sf/du mf: 900sf/du”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 and R-2 single-family residential districts inside Franklin Park village

    • Non-residential (NR) uses 10,000 sf
    • R-2 traditional lot 4,500 sf
    • R-3 to R-5 differ by use

    R-1 minimum lot area: >= 6250 sq ft (NR 10,000 sf) · R-2 minimum lot area: >= 6000 sq ft (traditional lot 4,500 sf; NR 10,000 sf)

    “minimum lot area 6,250sf nr: 10,000sf 6,000sf traditional lot: 4,500sf”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 and R-2 residential districts inside Franklin Park village

    • Non-residential uses have larger side setbacks
    • Other districts differ

    front setback R-1 and R-2: >= 25 feet · interior side setback R-1: >= 6 feet (NR 20 ft) · interior side setback R-2: >= 3 feet (NR 15 ft) · rear setback R-1: >= 40 feet · rear setback R-2: >= 35 feet

    “minimum front setback 25 feet 25 feet 25 feet 25 feet 25 feet”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 and R-2 districts inside Franklin Park village

    • Non-residential use in R-2 allows 60 percent

    maximum building coverage R-1: <= 40 percent · maximum building coverage R-2: <= 40 percent (NR 60 percent)

    “maximum building coverage 40 percent 40 percent nr: 60 percent”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 and R-2 districts inside Franklin Park village

    • See definition of building height (Chapter 2) for exceptions

    maximum building height R-1: <= 35 feet · maximum building height R-2: <= 35 feet

    “maximum building height 1 35 feet 35 feet sf, 2f, th: 35 feet”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Sleeping/public camping on public property and in vehicles parked overnight inside Franklin Park village (not a statement about private-land camping)

    • Parked vehicle for two consecutive hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m. for camping without permission of president and board is a violation
    “no person may sleep, nor otherwise engage in public camping, on a public sidewalk, street, alley, lane, other public right-of-way, park, bench, or any other publicly owned property”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    New subdivisions within the special flood hazard area inside Franklin Park village

    • Plats must include signed engineer statement on drainage
    • Base flood elevation data and floodway delineation required
    • General subdivision ordinance not reviewed
    “new subdivisions, manufactured home parks, annexation agreements, and planned unit developments (puds) within the sfha shall be reviewed to assure that the proposed developments are consistent with sections 8-5-6, 8-5-7, 8-5-8 and 8-5-9 of this chapter and the need to minimize flood damage.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in the 100-year and 500-year floodplain inside Franklin Park village

    • Applies to new buildings over $1,000 or 70 sq ft, substantial improvement or damage, repetitive loss, manufactured homes, travel trailers on site over 180 days
    • Meet via fill or elevation to flood protection elevation
    • Floodways designated for Silver Creek, Crystal Creek and Des Plaines River
    “all buildings located within a 100-year floodplain, also known as an sfha, and all buildings located outside the 100-year floodplain but within the 500-year floodplain, shall be protected from flood damage below the flood protection elevation.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Franklin Park or Cook County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permitting inside Franklin Park village
  • Inspections — Construction inspections inside Franklin Park village
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Franklin Park village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Franklin Park village
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Franklin Park village
11 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Franklin Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cook County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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